Railway car



' June' 9, 1936- w. E. WINE ET AL 2,043,602

RAILWAY CAR Filed June 22, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS BY 6 JMM FM-LLJIJ-J liu' ATTORNEYS Ju e 9, 1936 W. E. WINE ET AL RAILWAY CAR Filed June 22, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 8 I I k .10 19 f" I a Z, ii!!!" llllimv 1 szwr-zz 5-37 J5 5 5;? I

L i z" 7.1 1

i 1 a .10 I g 36 i JO 5 g m a:

. Y 26 v i 35 67 V 75 a 74 48 INVENTOFES 49 44 l z MW ium "ma. "Q' HHIIH. BY MM Q If; ATTORNEYS June 9, 1936. I w, 5 Wm ET L 2,043,602

RAILWAY CAR Filed June 22, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR 76 MM 5. b

mATToRNEvs Patented June 9, 1936 PATENT OFFICE RAILWAY CAR.

William E. Wine, Toledo, Ohio, and Cyrus Hankins, Washington, D. 0.

Application June 22, 1934, Serial No. 131,976

19 Claims.

Our invention relates to railway cars and more particularly to freight cars for transporting finely 1glivided material, such as cement and the like, in

ulk.

A primary object of the invention is to provide railway cars of the hopper type with improved means for rendering the lading discharge openings of such cars substantially water-tight. Another object of the inventionis to provide the hoppers of such cars with chute-like extensions through which lading is adapted to discharge from the car.

A primary feature of the invention consists in providing a railway car hopper having a hinged door for closing the lading discharge opening thereof with means providing the hopper with a chute-like extension communicating with the opening, the extension having an opening adjacent its lower end through which lading is adapted to discharge from the hopper when the door is opened.

Another feature of the invention consists in forming the chute-like extension of the hopper in such manner that it will afford a housing for the hinged door.

Another feature of the invention consists in providing movable means disposed within the chute-like extension for operating the hing-ed door which closes the lading discharge opening.

A further feature of the invention consists in providing the chute-like extension with a recess for receiving the door operating means when the door is disposed in open position.

A still further feature of the invention resides providing the hopper with inwardly projecting recesses adjacent the top of the lading discharge opening in which are pivotally mounted members affording a hinge support for the door.

Other and more specific features of the invention residing in advantageous forms, combinations and relations of parts will hereinafter appear and be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention,--

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of one of the hoppers of a railway car of the saw-tooth hopper type.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the construction illustrated in Figure 1 as viewed from the left hand side of that figure.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on a line corresponding to line 4-4 of Figure 1 showing the door in open position.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a detail view of a portion of the hopper and the movable means mounted thereon for detachably connecting thereto the enclosed conduit for receiving lading from the car.

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view taken on line 'l---! of Figure 6.

Figures 8, 9, 10 and 11 are enlarged detail sectional views taken on line 88, 9--9, l0l0 and tl--l I, respectively, of Figure 3.

Figure 12 is an enlarged view of the lower portion of the door operating lever and the associated parts of the hopper.

Figure 13 is a sectional view taken on line l3-|3 of Figure 12.

Figure 14 is an elevational view of the inner side of the door operating lever.

Figure 15 is an inside elevational view of the upper portion of the hopper door.

Figure 16 is a detail sectional view illustrating additional means for detachably connecting the enclosed conduit to the hopper.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I indicates one of the hoppers of a railway car of the saw-tooth hopper type wherein, as is well known, the hoppers are arranged in pairs on opposite sides of the center sill, a portion of which is designated by the numeral 2 in Figure 1. It is to be understood, however, and those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention is not limited in its application to hopper cars of this particular type. The hopper l is formed by a substantially vertical inner side sheet 3, an inwardly inclined outer side sheet 4 and upper and lower inclined floor sheets 5 and 6, respectively. The side sheets are provided with inwardly extending flanges I which underlie and are secured to the lower floor sheet 6 and with similarly extending flanges 8 which are overlappingly secured to the front face of the upper floor sheet 5, which latter sheet may constitute a continuation of one of the transverse ridge sheets with which hopper cars of the saw-tooth type are customarily provided. The sheets of the hopper cooperate to form the forward end thereof with an opening which is preferably disposed in a plane forming an angle with the horizontal.

Rigid with the forward or discharge end of the hopper is a structure which may be advantageously formed as an integral unit and includes a door frame element 9 and a chute-like element 10. The door frame has a rearwardly extending flange or the like I l for attachment to the inner and outer side sheets and the lower floor define the sides and the top of a lading discharge 7 opening M with which the frame is provided, the bottom of the opening being defined by the portion of. the flange ll secured to the lower floor sheet 6. hind the plate portion I3 of the frame and thus prevented from discharging from the hopper, the

lower portion of the flange H secured to the in-.

ner side sheet inclines inwardly, as at Ila, and merges into the portion thereof secured to the lower floor sheet at a point adjacent the inner edge of the lower end of the plate portion I3. The inner side sheet 3 is likewise inclined inwardly at its lower end, as indicated at 3a, where it'overlaps the incline Ha.

Bounding the lading discharge opening I4 of the frame is a forwardly projecting flange I5 which cooperates in a manner to be described with a hinged door I6 employed for closing the opening to seal the latter against the escape of fine lading. The portion of the flange I5 along the top of the opening is provided with a downwardly extending portion H which serves to assist in effectively sealing the upper edge of the opening.

Rigid with the door and preferably formed integrally therewith are two hinge arms I8, the upper ends of which extend rearwardly above the upper edge of the door into recesses I9 which are formed in the upper portion 'of the plate member if? and project into the hopper. Supported in the spaced side walls of each of the recesses I9 is a sleeve 2! which extends through an opening in the upper end of the adjacent arm E8 to afford a hinge support therefor. One end of the sleeve is disposed within an opening 22 formed in one of the side walls of the recess and the opposite end thereof is disposed within a circular recess 23 formed in the inner face of the other side wall of the recess. The sleeve is restrained from axial movement by a rivet 24 which extends therethro-ugh and through an opening 25 provided in the side wall of the recess having the circular recess 23, said opening being of. only sufficient diameter to receive the body of the rivet and being therefore of less diameter than the opening 22.

The door I6 has an inwardly projecting continuously extending marginal flange 26 which constitutes the outer wall of a recess 21 formed in the inner face of the door and also extending continuously therearound. Disposed within the recess and preferably in spaced relation to the marginal flange 25 is relatively resilient packing material 28, such, for example, as comparatively hard rubber or the like. It has been found that rubberized belting of substantially triangular shape in cross section which is readily obtainable on the market is particularly suitable andpwhen material of this cross section is employed, the door is preferably provided with a rearwardly extending outwardly inclined flange 29 which partially overlaps the recess and forms a groove of the desired shape into which the pack- So that lading will not be entrapped befrom the car.

ceived, is housed within the chute is disposed in a plane inclined to the horizontal when in closed ing fits. The packing is preferably formed into one endless piece before it is applied to the door and, in order that it will fit snugly within the groove provided therefor, the portion of the flange forming the groove along the upper edge of the door is separable from the door, being advantageously formed on a plate-like member 38 which may be secured to the door by rivets 3| within a recessed portion 32.

When the door is in closed position, the outer .end portions of the flange i 5 of the frame which, 'as shown in the drawings, are preferably wedgeshaped extend into the space between the marginal flange 25 of the door and the packing 28. The marginal flange is flared slightly so as to lie in substantially the same plane as the outer face of the flange l5, so as when the door is in closed position to have an extended area in contact therewith. Due to the location of the hinge supports for the door, the portion of the flange I5 along the upper edge of the lading discharge opening may not extend. into the space between the packing and the adjacent marginal flange of the door'for as great a distance as other portions of the flange, but this portion of the opening may be sealed as effectively as other portions thereof by providing the frame with the downwardly extending portion !5 which is adapted to overlap the outer face of the adjacent portion of the packing and forms an abutment against which the packing may be compressed.

Enclosing the lading discharge opening of the frame is the element It which forms a chute-like extension of the hopper and includes inner and outer side walls 33 and 3 respectively, and front and rear walls 35 and 36, respectively. The walls of the chute may be advantageously vertically disposed and they preferably terminate below the lower edge of the lading discharge opening E4 to provide a substantially horizontally disposed outlet opening through which lading discharges The door It which, as will be percent the front wall, when in open position, the latter is provided adjacent its upper portion with recesses 37 for receiving the hinge arms I3 which project forwardly from the front face of the door.

These recesses are of such size as to permit the hinge arms tobe moved vertically within them, when the door is being assembled with or disassembled from the hopper.

Disposed within the lower end of the chute is suitable mechanism for moving the door to and from closed position and for securing it in closed as well as in open position. The mechanism may conveniently comprise two hingedly connected links 39 and 40, respectively, which are adapted to be disposed in alignment with each other, when the door is closed, and to be folded upwardly into a recess 38 formed in the front wall of the chute, when the door is opened. The link 39 is pivotally connected to the door and is of substantially channel-shape, while the link at is rotatably mounted on the chute within the recess 38 and is of substantially T-shape. By forming one of the links of channel-shape and providing the oth er with a portion, such as the stem of a T, which may extend into the channel when the links are folded, it will be appreciated that the links will occupy a minimum space when the door is open. Extending transversely of the recess 38 and journaled in the spaced wall portions 4| thereof is a shaft 42 which may be advantageously formed as an integral part of an operating lever 43 disposed exteriorly of the chute. Axial movement of the shaft may be conveniently. restrained by a rivet or the like 44 extending longitudinally thereof within an opening 45. Intermediate its ends, the shaft 42 is provided with longitudinally extending ribs 46, the side walls ofwhich are disposed substantially radially and, together with the outer walls of the ribs, tape-r toward the end of the shaft. These ribs define grooves 41 for receiving similarly shaped ribs 48 formed within the hub portion 49 of the link of the door operating mechanism. In this manner, link 40 is keyed to shaft 42 and will be caused to rotate therewith, when. the latter is operated by the lever 43.

While any suitable means may be employed for movably connecting link 39 with the door, it is preferred to employ a member 50 which is screw threaded into the outer end of link 40 and is provided with an apertured end 5| for receiving a pivot pin 52 carried by lugs 53 which project from the outer face of the door and are preferably formed integrally therewith. The portion of the door intermediate the lugs 53 may be re cessed, as indicated at 54, so that the effective length of the link 40 may be slightly increased. By providing link 40 with a screw threaded extension, such as the member 50, it will be perceived that the latter may be suitably adjusted to insure a very tight fit between the door and door frame notwithstanding slight irregularities in. the various .parts of the structure and the wear to. which those parts may be subjected. I

To secure the door in both open and closed positions, a rotatable locking cam 55 is mounted on a bracket 56 which projects forwardly from the recess 38 and may, if desired, be formed integrally therewith.

The bracket is preferably rigidifled by inwardly extending ribs 51, adjacent the upper and lower edges thereof and it is formed with an opening for receiving a rivet 58 extending through a ferrule or thimble 59 disposed within an opening in the cam, the rivet and ferrule thus forming a pivotal mounting for the cam. The inner end of the ferrule abuts against the outer face of the bracket 56, while its outer end is provided with an annular flange 6% which overlaps the outer face of the cam and affords a seat for the adjacent head of the rivet 58. The cam is intended to cooperate with a rib or the like 6!, which extends inwardly from the lower portion of the operating lever 43 and radially of the shaft 42 and, if desired, the rib may be formed integrally with both the lever and the shaft. When the operating lever 43 has been moved into a door closing position, the rib Si is disposed substantially vertically, while, when the leverhas been moved into a position such that the door is fully open, the ribis disposed substantially horizontally and the eccentric face 62 of the locking cam is so formed that it will operatively engage the rib when disposed in either of these positions, thereby serving to not only secure the door in closed position, but also in open position.

When it is desired to move the door toward open position, the locking cam is rotated upwardly or, as viewed in Figure 13, in a clockwise direction out of the path of movement of the rib 6|. To

prevent the cam from rotating completely around and thus again moving into the path of movement of the rib 6!, the inner face of the cam is provided with a groove or recess 63 into which extends a lug 64 which is preferably integrally formed with the chute It. This lug provides a stop or abutment which is adapted to limit rotation of the cam into an inoperative position by contacting with the end wall 65 of the recess 63. The lug is so disposed that, when movement of the cam has been arrested thereby, the cam will not tend to rotate back into the position from which it has been moved, but instead will be. supported in an elevated inoperative position. When disposed in this position, the operating lever may be moved to cause the door to open and, when fully opened, the rib 6i will be disposed in a substantially horizontal position. It will be observed that, due to the location of the hinge supports for the door, the door will not remain in a fully open position, but will tend to move into an intermediate position. It is to prevent the door from moving into such position that the cam 55 is so formed that it may cooperate with the rib 6|, when disposed horizontally, thereby securing the door in a fully open position.

The lower portions of two of the walls of the chute, preferably the inner wall 33 and the rear wall 36, are formed with a groove 66 for receiving the flanged upper end 61 of a flexible boot or conduit 68 into which the lading from the car is adapted to discharge. The boot may be detachably connected to the lower end of the chute by a member 69 which is rotatably mounted adjacent the front wall 35 of the chute on a flange 10 which projects outwardly from the d'uter side wall 34 thereof. The rotatable member 69 is of U-shape in cross section and the legs H thereof are spaced 2. suflicient distance apart to receive between them the flange it and the upper flanged end 67 of the boot. The pivotal mounting of the member 69 is similar to the pivotal mounting of the cam 55', comprising a rivet l2 and a ferrule 13 and it is located adjacent the outer edge of the flange 70, so that, when the member is rotated into one position, the U-portion thereof will embracingly overlap the flange, and, when moved into another position, the U-portion will be disposed outwardly of the flange. The inner face of the lower leg of the U-portion is beveled, as at 14, so that, when the member 69 is moved into operative association with the boot, the flanged upper end 61 thereof will be forced upwardly into engagement with the under side of flange it and also into engagement with the under side of a flange M which projects inwardly from the front wall of the chute. At one end, the legs H of the. U-portion of the rotatable member 65% are connected by a wall 16, so that accidental displacement of the upper end of the boot in any direction with respect to the chute is effectively prevented.

Instead of employing means, such as the rotatable member 69, for detachably connecting the boot to the chute, one or more U-clamps may be used in its place or may be used in conjunction therewith. One of such clamps is illustrated at T1 in Figure 16 and it is intended to cooperate with the flanged upper end of the boot and a laterally projecting bracket formed at the lower end of the front wall 35 of the chute, the bracket comprising a base portion 18 and upwardly projecting rigidifying ribs l9. By proper manipulation of the screw on the clamp, the upper end of the boot may be forced tightly against the under side of the adjacent portion of the chute, whereby the boot is firmly connected to the chute and the escape of finely divided laden, such as cement, at the joint between the boot and chute is effectively prevented.

From the foregoing, it will be perceived that simple and rugged means has been devised for providing a railway hopper car with a chute-like extension with which a flexible boot or conduit for receiving lading from the car may be easily associated with the car and that effective and reliable means have been combined with the chute-like extension for easily operating a hingedly mounted door and for maintaining the door in either open or closed position.

What we claim is:

1. A railway car having a hopper provided with a lading discharge opening, a hinged door for closing said opening, hinge straps projecting outwardly from the outer face of the door for hingedly associating the door with the hopper, and means rigid with the hopper providing the latter with'a chute-like extension communicating with said opening, said extension having a wall extending downwardly from adjacent the hinged edge of the door and said wall being provided with recesses for receiving said hinge straps when the door is in open position.

2. A railway car having a hopper provided with a lading discharge opening disposed in a plane inclined to the horizontal, said hopper being rigidly provided with a chute-like extension communicating with said opening, a hinged door disposed within said extension for closing said opening,.said extension having a front wall extending downwardly at an acute angle to the plane of the closed door, and mechanism disposed within the extension for moving the door to closed position, said mechanism including a pivotally mounted member, the front wall of the extension being provided with a portion extending at an angle thereto affording a pivotal support for said member.

3. A railway car having a hopper provided with a lading discharge opening disposed in a plane inclined to the horizontal, said hopper being rigidly provided with a chute-like extension communicating with said opening, a hinged door disposed within said extension for closing said opening, said extension having a front wall extending downwardly at an acute angle to the plane of the closed door, and mechanism for moving the door to closed position, said mechanism involving a plurality of pivotally connected arms housed within said extension, said front wall having an outwardly extending recess opening inwardly into the extension and one of said arms being pivotally mounted in the recess.

4. A railway car having a hopper provided with a lading discharge opening disposed in a plane inclined to the horizontal, said hopper being rigidly provided with a chute-like extension communicating with said opening, a hinged door disposed within said extension for closing said opening, said extension having a front wall extending downwardly at an acute angle to the plane of the closed, door, and mechanism for moving the door to closed position, said mechanism involving a plurality of hingedly connected members housed within the extension and movably mounted on said front wall, one of said members being of substantially channel-shape and adapted to overlappingly embrace the other of said members when the door is disposed in open position.

5. A railway car having a hopper provided with a lading discharge opening, a hinged door for closing said opening, means rigid with the hopper providing the latter with a chute-like extension communicating with said opening, said extension having a Wall extending downwardly from adjacent the hinged edge of the door, and mechanism for closing the door involving means movably mounted on the extension, said wall of the extension being provided with a recess for receiving the last named means when the door is in open position.

6. A railway car having a hopper provided with a lading discharge opening, a hinged door for closing said opening, means rigid with the hopper providing the latter with a chute-like extension communicating with said opening, said extension having a wall extending downwardly from adjacent the hinged edge of the door, and mechanism involving a plurality of pivotally connected members for moving the door to closed position, one of said members being connected to the door and another of said members being connected to said extension, said wall of the extension being provided with a recess for receiving said pivotally connected members when the door is disposed in open position.

7. A railway car having a hopper provided with a lading discharge opening disposed in a plane inclined to the horizontal, said hopper being rigidly provided with a chute-like extension communicating with said opening and having a front wall extending downwardly from adjacent the upper edge of the opening, a hinged door disposed within said extension for closing said opening, and mechanism for moving the door to closed position, said mechanism involving pivotally connected members housed within said extension and movably mounted on the front wall thereof, an operating lever disposed on the exterior of the extension, and means rigid with the lever extending into said extension and connected to one of said members for operating the latter.

8. A railway car having a hopper provided with a lading discharge opening, said hopper being rigidly provided with a chute-like extension communicating with said opening, a hinged door disposed within said extension for closing said opening, and mechanism for moving the door to closed position involving a lever disposed on the outside of said extension and having a portion journaled in the latter, and a plurality of pivotally connected members disposed within said extension, one of said members being pivotally connected to the outer face of the door and the other of said members being connected to said portion of the lever for rotation therewith.

9. A railway car having a hopper provided with a lading discharge opening disposed in a plane inclined to the horizontal, said hopper being rigidly provided with a chute-like extension communicating with said opening, a hinged door disposed within said extension for closing said opening, said extension having a front wall extending downwardly at an acute angle to the plane of the closed door, and mechanism for moving the door to closed position involving movable means housed within said extension, and means movably mounted on the outer side of the front wall of said extension cooperable with said mechanism for preventing movement of the door to open position.

10. A railway car having a hopper provided with a lading discharge opening disposed in a plane inclined to the horizontal, said hopper being rigidly provided with a chute-like extension communicating with said opening, a hinged door disposed within said extension for closing said opening, said extension having a front wall extending downwardly at an acute angle to the plane of the closed door, and mechanism for moving the door to closed position involving pivotally connected members disposed within said extension, a lever disposed exteriorly of the extension ior actuating said members, and means movably mounted on the outside of the front wall of said extension cooperable with said lever for preventing movement thereof.

11. A railway car having a hopper provided with a lading discharge opening, said hopper be ing rigidly provided with a chute-like extension communicating with said opening, a hinged door disposed within said extension for closing said opening, and mechanism for moving the door to closed position involving a lever rotatably mounted on the extension and provided with a laterally projecting lug, and movable means carried by the extension and engageable with said lug for preventing rotation of the lever.

12. A railway car having a hopper provided with a lading discharge opening, said hopper being rigidly provided with a chute-like extension communicating with said opening, a hinged door disposed within said extension for closing said opening, and mechanism for moving the door to and from open position involving a rotatable member journaled in said extension, and means engageable with said member for selectively looking the door in open and in closed positions.

13. A railway car having a hopper, a unitary structure rigid with the discharge end of the hopper, said structure consisting of a door frame member defining a lading discharge opening and a chute-like member communicating with the opening forming an extension of the hopper through which lading is adapted to discharge from the car, a door hingedly connected to said structure for closing said opening, and mechanism carried by said chute-like member and movably connected to the door for maintaining the latter in closed position.

14. A railway car having a hopper, an integral structure rigid with the hopper including a door frame element having a lading discharge opening and a chute-like element communicating with the opening, a door hingedly mounted within said structure for closing said opening and mechanism carried solely by said integral structure for operating and maintaining the door in closed position.

15. A railway car having a hopper including side sheets and an inclined floor sheet, an integral door frame secured to said hopper in a position forming an angle with the horizontal and having a lading discharge opening, a door hingedly connected to said frame adjacent the upper portion thereof for closing said opening, means integral with the frame providing the hopper with a chute-like extension communicating with said opening, said door when in open position being disposed within said extension and the latter being provided with an opening adjacent its lower end through which lading is adapted to discharge from the car, and mechanism carried by said extension for operating and maintaining the door in closed position, said mechanism including a hand operating lever located exteriorly of the extension.

16. A railway car having a hopper provided with a substantially rectangular lading discharge opening, a door controlling the discharge of lading from the hopper, the hopper being provided along only two adjoining sides of the opening with grooved portions for receiving the flanged end of a flexible conduit into which the lading is adapted to discharge when the door is open, and means movably mounted on the hopper adjacent another side of the opening for supportingly cooperating with the flanged end of said conduit when the latter is disposed in said grooves to detachably connect the conduit to the hopper.

17. A railway car having a hopper provided with a substantially rectangular lading discharge opening, a door controlling the discharge of lading from the hopper, the hopper having grooves extending along two adjoining sides of the opening for receiving the flanged end of a flexible conduit into which the lading is adapted to discharge when the door is open, and means movably mounted on the hopper for detachably connecting the conduit thereto when the flanged end thereof is disposed in said grooves, said means having a U-shaped portion adapted to overlappingly embrace the flanged end of the conduit and an adjacent portion of the hopper.

18. A railway car having a hopper provided with means defining a substantially rectangular discharge opening, said means being provided with grooves extending along two adjoining sides of the opening for receiving the flanged end of an enclosed conduit, said means being also provided with an outwardly projecting flange extending alonganother side of said opening, and means movably mounted on the end of said flange remote from both of said grooves, said movable means being engageable with the flanged end of the conduit when the latter is disposed in said grooves for detachably connecting the conduit to the hopper.

'19. A railway car having a hopper provided with means defining a substantially rectangular lading discharge opening, said means having grooves extending along two adjoining sides of the opening for receiving the flanged end of an enclosed conduit, said means also having a laterally projecting portion adjacent another side of said opening for cooperating with means adapted to detachably connect the conduit to the hopper.

WILLIAM E. WINE. CYRUS HANKINS. 

